Madison — Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp on Tuesday defended Gov. Scott Walker's plan to turn the Natural Resources Board into an advisory panel, instead of one that makes policy, even as she acknowledged she had not been consulted on the proposal in advance.

"I feel that it's extra layers," Stepp said of the board in a briefing to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. "I think it's duplicative."

The idea has sparked opposition from Democrats as well as some of Walker's fellow Republicans. Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) said he had "some concerns" about the plan.(48)

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp., then so is chief executive Michael Koss, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

In a suit filed last week, the bank argues that if a jury finds Park Bank liable for the loss, then Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, the firm's former auditor, should have to pay some of the award.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," Park Bank wrote in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss in this case those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(1)

New restaurant replacing closed Carleton Grange Pub in St. Francis

A new restaurant and tavern will replace Carleton Grange Pub, which closed last September in St. Francis after its owners said road improvements were reducing nearby on-street parking spaces.

Attebury's Pub is scheduled to open at the former Carleton Grange, 3807 S. Packard Ave., on March 8, said co-owner Brad Tarnof.

Attebury's will feature an extensive beer list, pizzas baked in the restaurant's wood-fire oven, sandwiches and other items, said Tarnof and partner Andrew Maricle.

Maricle and Tarnof own Palms Bistro and Bar, 221 N. Broadway, in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. They said the prices at Attebury's will be lower than the menu prices at Palms, which opened in 2002 and was sold to Maricle and Tarnof in 2007.

Dean Brazaitis, head chef at Palms, also will be head chef at Attebury's, and will have an ownership stake in the new business, Maricle said.

Carleton Grange, an English-style pub, opened in 2006 with the $1 million remodeling of a former machine shop. The restaurant has indoor seating capacity for 247 people, but the property's parking lot has just 10 spaces.

To meet the parking needs of the restaurant and other nearby businesses, city officials in 2005 agreed to allow 11 parking spaces on the south side of E. Sivyer Ave., which borders the Carleton Grange property. Another 29 spaces were planned for the north side of Sivyer Ave.

But, in 2006, city officials decided they didn't want so many spaces at the intersection of Sivyer and Packard avenues, where they could affect traffic flow. The spaces planned for Sivyer Ave.'s south side were reduced to nine spots, while 11 spaces were created on Sivyer Ave.'s north side, about 100 feet to the west of Packard Ave.

That led to a long-running dispute between city officials and architect Craig Ellsworth, who led the redevelopment of the building into Carleton Grange, which was operated by his son, Eric.

The Ellsworths said the reduction in on-street parking hurt their business. They decided to close Carleton Grange last fall, saying nearby road improvements were taking away even more on-street parking spaces.

Mayor Al Richards and other city officials said the $1.4 million project was bringing badly needed improvements to the area around S. Packard Ave., S. Lake Drive and E. Howard Ave.

The work, including sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and decorative crosswalks, made the area near Lake Michigan more attractive for stores and restaurants, including future developments, city officials say.

The street work includes curb cuts and new crosswalks that removed 27 parking spaces on Packard Ave., according to Carleton Grange.

Maricle said the tight parking situation is similar to what Palms Bistro faces in the Third Ward.

"We still do a pretty good business at Palms," he said.

Maricle and Tarnof's Group Four Development LLC is leasing the former Carleton Grange building from CGP Holdings LLC, which lists Craig Ellsworth as its registered agent.

Commercial Real Estate News

A large industrial building, located on Milwaukee's north side, has been sold to a local investment group that plans to continue redeveloping the property.

An affiliate of Phoenix Investors LLC purchased a 206,200-square-foot portion of the former Square D industrial plant, 4041 N. Richards St., for $1.45 million, the firm announced Monday. It was sold by Stag II Glendale LLC, a subsidiary of Boston-based Stag Industrial Inc., in a transaction brokered by Robert Dufek of Dufek Realty LLC and Jim Larkin of Colliers.